Inspired by Giving

Tom Payn joined Missouri Western's Clock Tower Society when he informed the MWSU Foundation of his intention to make Missouri Western a beneficiary of his estate planning. He set up an endowment in his estate, naming Missouri Western as one of the beneficiaries of the interest from the endowment.

Tom, who is originally from St. Joseph, became involved with Missouri Western about the time his lifelong friend and fellow classmate at Savannah High School, Steve Craig, made a $5.5 million gift to the University to establish the Steven L. Craig School of Business. Steve helped create the unique franchise ownership opportunity for students and alumni in 2009, and Tom was one of the judges in the first competition that year.

He has returned every year since as a judge and says the relationships he has developed with the alumni owners keep him coming back.

"I've become attached to what they are accomplishing," Tom says. "I've become a mentor to some of the owners and they call me with questions from time to time. There are now four former owners living within 30 minutes of me and I see them all regularly."

Tom currently owns 11 Subway restaurants in the Denver area, along with several real estate properties. He bought his first Subway in 1989, and at one time owned 34 stores with 380 employees. He is still very active in the business.

"I've enjoyed creating an environment that, if I was an employee, I'd want to work there. We have strived to create a family-like atmosphere at each store," he says. "In my business, the people are what it's all about. That is so important and critical to success."

The planned gift is not Tom's first gift to Missouri Western. Several years ago, he pledged $100,000 to be used for loans to alumni who compete to own a franchise in the Center for Franchise Development's applied business ownership course.

You, too, can make a lasting impact at Missouri Western with a gift in your estate plan. Contact Kim Weddle at 816-271-5648 or weddle@missouriwestern.edu to start planning today. If you have already made a gift in your estate, please use our gift intention form to let us know.